Reflector hires new editor

NORWALK — The new leader of the Norwalk Reflector's newsroom should not be an unfamiliar face to those in the Maple City. Gott Brian Gott, who previously served as a reporter for the Reflector, took over as news editor this week. He steps into the role, replacing Joe Centers, who retired last week after a more than four-decade career with the Reflector. "I'm really excited about working for the Reflector in this new position," Gott said. "I'm looking forward to telling stories and helping people communicate their issues and concerns." In this role, Gott will serve as the news leader of the Reflector, planning and organizing news stories for the daily Reflector and combined Weekender papers in addition to writing news stories himself. He will also work with editors of Ogden Newspapers' four other northwest Ohio publications — the Sandusky Register, Tiffin Advertiser-Tribune, Findlay Courier and Fostoria Review-Times — on preparing and distributing regional news coverage. "Brian was a great choice," said Matt Westerhold, executive editor of the Register, Reflector, Courier, Advertiser-Tribune and Review-Times. "With his background and experience, and being from here, it was an easy pick. Selecting someone to succeed Joe Centers was nearly impossible, but Brian has what it takes to succeed." Meet Brian Gott is a Norwalk native and 1986 Norwalk High School graduate. He graduated from Lorain County Community College and Ashland University, earning a degree in political science. Gott returned to the Reflector in early 2023 after having previously worked for the paper. He was a reporter with the Reflector, Register and the Lorain Morning Journal in the early 1990s. During his prior tenure with the Reflector, Gott won two investigative reporting awards for his coverage of a criminal case involving former Norwalk mayor Tom Cochran. He's won a total of four investigative reporting awards during his career in news. Gott has a twin brother, Mark, who lives in Charlotte, North Carolina. Outside of work, Gott is an avid tennis player. People can contact Gott by calling him at 704-777-2345 or emailing him at briangott@tandemnetwork.com.